I joined the forum last year after the GP asked me to get on BP meds I am 46 years old was rounding up an MBA program and started getting tension headaches BP hovering around 147/78 sometimes 150/78 at the time I was 120kg 6.3 height.I automatically switched lifestyles presently 96kg BMI of 27.5 switched to plant 🌱 based everything that I eat can no longer enjoy steak or chicken My BP started hovering in the 130s/70 sometimes 126/69 with the Losartan.However at some points I get insomnia,which keeps me up at night if I skip the drug I sleep very well.I f I stay off for about 4 days my BP starts heading back to the 140s and the tension headaches signs start creeping back in .
I think I am struggling with accepting the reality that I have to depend on this medication with the side effect.I discussed with my consultant cardiologist using my private health insurance he suggested I switch to valsartan which I did but the numbers remained sane although the insomnia disappeared for a few days but didn’t get the reading down like the 25mg Losartan.I spoke with my friend who just turned 50 and lives in Munich he told me he has been on Candesartan 16mg with no issues I am wondering and bothered I hate being on a medication to live my life as normal.I am fit have lost weight,eat right .The boditrax machine says my metabolic age is 30 why should I still be on BP medication.This is shocking to accept.Is this what getting older brings as a package.Gosh.
Please I need someone to advise me on how to adjust and which ARB should I switch to .I can’t do diuretics or Calcium blockers because it is renowned as an ED side effect drug .I am short of words.
Thanks and blessings to everyone.
Chris
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SonofGod
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Sometimes you can be doing everything right yet you have high blood pressure but it is very important to get it down and it stay down as you will know so you do need to get this sorted
I take Candesartan which I have years and seem to be ok on it but we are all different and there are many blood pressure tablets to try
No one can tell you which one to go on only what has suited us but you need to work with your Doctor in finding which one is best for you and I am sure you will
There are other things that can reduce blood pressure that you haven't mentioned.
A low salt diet is effective. Salt causes the body to retain water, and retained water drives up blood pressure. Modern lifestyles, relying on the convenience of packaged and processed foods, means we eat way more salt than necessary. At first food tastes a bit bit bland without lashings of salt, but you soon get acclimatised. The recommended maximum is 6g per day (studies show that that many people are consuming 12-20g per day), but I aim for 3-4g and this resulted in a similar drop in my blood pressure to that achieved from medication.
Exercise is another life style change that's really effective. Achieving the NHS recommended minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week makes a big difference for most people. The NHS call this "moderate exercise", to be honest it's a bit more than that! For example, walking on level ground or exercise such as gardening is unlikely to get us to the level required, in all likelihood you'll need a gym or to go jogging. I recognise that's a big commitment in a busy life, but the impact on blood pressure is truly extraordinary.
Finally, a BMI of 27.5 is good, but it's not quite good enough. I know that BMI isn't a perfect metric, but if you really want to get your blood pressure down then you should be aiming for below 25. I'm naturally muscular and broad shouldered, so I thought a BMI of 25 wasn't going to happen, but losing that last half a stone that got me there also brought a measurable additional drop in blood pressure.
Is it all worth it?
There's no doubt that life style changes are a giant faff, we're turning into a nation of unfit fatties for a good reason, life's just so much easier that way! But unfortunately blood pressure really is important, high blood pressure damages the sensitive linings of our arteries, and is a huge risk factor for both heart attacks and strokes. Personally I'd treat the often quoted 140 systolic number not as a target but as an absolute upper limit, as it's really still a red warning sign. My GP says that anyone below retirement age really should be under 120, and being consistently under 120 probably requires an average of about 110.
However, I also get that disturbed sleep is a serious risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. So many people can't just medicate themselves to that outcome. Sleep apnea is a common root cause of heart disease, and shift workers with disturbed sleep patterns have a significantly higher incidence of heart problems. I did an international job which meant I had low level jet lag almost constantly for over twenty years, that may well have been one of the key drivers of my heart issues. So I agree that you personally need to find a way of reducing your blood pressure whilst also achieving seven hours or more of good quality sleep each night.
That's why I'd recommend doubling down on life style changes.
AS Chappychap has said elevated BP carries serious risks so if lifestyle changes do not work you are better taking medication than having an "event" that could leave you disabled or even dead!
Also because the PIL (patient information leaflet) talks about a side effect it does not mean you will suffer it. I have been on two CCIs and they had different side effects - Amlodipine caused oedema, and Diltiazem occasional dizziness and nausea. We are all affected differently by medication. For instance I can function perfectly normally on 8 Tramadol a day whereas two friends become zombies (non flesh eating) after taking one or two. You need to work with your GP and discuss your concerns. An ACE Inhibitor such as Lisinopril or Ramipril might suit you better. Good luck!
Hello everyone and thanks for your valuable contributions to my post.You guys have raised valuable points and I appreciate the insights.
I have taken notes .I am not against medication my concern is about disrupting my life activities sleep,exercise,work ,etc.
I hope to get a solution that is practical and compatible but ultimately get to a point where I can get off the meds if I have lived 45years without the medications how does it just spring up from nowhere.
That’s the same when I started on Losartan it enhanced my sleep satisfaction but after a while it became the opposite.When I take a break from the medication sleep is restored. I am surprised and would be curious to know why your sleep schedule changes while on the same medication
Hi there, I understand the frustration you may be feeling. I just want to say that it is possible to lower your blood pressure without medication by wholeheartedly committing yourself to lifestyle change. What I did was to excercise, eating wholefoods, no processed food and cooking all my meals from scratch. The most important thing is consistency and your motivation will be improved when you start to see positive results such as your blood pressure starting to lower and improved sleep , you will generally feel well and strong. I found batch cooking useful because I did not have to cook every time I need to eat. Good luck.
I've been on Losartan for 12 years without any side effects. At one stage I was on 100mg, but even that did not cause any issues Unfortunately it was insufficient to prevent a heart attack which was primarily caused by stress due to my work in combination with a busy home life.
I appreciate that you would prefer not to have to take any medication, but modern life is not a perfect scenario. Have you considered how stressful your job is? What is the root cause of you having raised blood pressure? I would suggest that some analysis is required.
All okay with me after the HA. A couple of stents sorted the problem and I went on to have an elective triple bypass about a year later. Result: I now climb bigger hills!
Taking medication can be an issue mentally as you can feel as if you've failed. That is certainly not the case. Modern life is stressful and we need as much help as we can get to live it as well as we can. I now take 6 pills every morning, feel better and I am much fitter than I was before the HA. I like to get the pills out of way with breakfast and then get on my day. Out of sight, out of mind. 😀
Hi Chris. Have you looked at incorporating isometric exercise, such as the plank? I believe it works by making blood vessels more flexible. I started with the plank and as my endurance time in holding the plank position developed my blood pressure dropped noticeably.
Hi Chris, sorry if post is long, like yourself i am taking losartan, 5mg amlodipine in morning and 25mg losartan at night, however last year May went to see gp as i had headaches all day for about 2 weeks, he found my blood pressure had not improved and had gone up 146/90, he upped losartan to 50mg, cut a long story short xmas eve ended up in hospital due to dizziness and had a fall which resulted in 8 stitches to head, paramedics said blood pressure had significantly dropped 79/60, cause was losartan of 50mg was to high a dose and should of been monitored, anyway, hospital stopped losartan and was to only continue on amlodopine, within 4 weeks follow up with gp my BP had Started to rise again so put back on 25mg losartan end of January, i truly understand how frustrated you are because like yourself i changed my whole way of eating, exercised lost just over 20kg to try and get off these medicines, yes BP did drop for a while and i was happy that i was told that i no longer needed them but then had to face reality and accept that i may have to depend on this BP medicine no matter how much i exercise, eat healthier 😬🤔 good thing to come out of the changes is that my high cholesterol has gone back to normal and diabetes still in remission, just this BP won't leave me alone 😢 good luck and hope you find a suitable one which works for you 👍
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